Pastor's Pen - He won't let go

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

A young family made their way through a busy airport. People were everywhere. Some were rushing to find the right gate so they could catch their flight. Others were making their way to the baggage claim. It was a frightening experience for one little girl, who felt adrift in a sea of travelers. She was afraid she might be separated from her family, and get lost in the crowd. How could she hope to find the right way on her own? When she started to cry, her daddy assured her that he wasn't going to let that happen. He took hold of her hand, squeezed it tight, and reminded her that he would be right by her side the entire way. He even scooped her up in his strong arms and held her close until they made it safely to their seats. There was no place more secure, to that little girl, than the strong arms of her father.

Scripture gives the same kind of assurance to the children of God. Our Heavenly Father wants us to know that He will never let us go. He will stick close to our side, in every situation no matter how frightening it might seem. He will always be there to grasp our hand, hold us tight, and guide us through. We need to be reminded of this truth often, because we quickly forget. We allow fear to overwhelm us, when we realize that the troubles we face are outside of our control. But they are not beyond His control. The Lord gently whispers, through the pages of His Word, that we are safe and secure in His all-powerful arms.

These verses caution us not to place our confidence in the wrong place. People often convince themselves that wealth and material prosperity will provide security for their lives. "If I can just make enough money, or put away a big enough nest egg, I won't have any reason to worry." But they are mistaken. No amount of cash could ever be enough. Those who trust in earthly riches will ultimately be disappointed, because temporal things will fade. Wealth can vanish in a moment. There are problems that money cannot solve. It gives only false assurance.

The God who made heaven and earth, on the other hand, is faithful. If we are still apprehensive, all we have to do is look at his track record. He was with His people of old. He walked beside people like Jacob, Joshua, and David (Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 37:28). They placed their confidence in the Lord, and were not disappointed. Do you have this kind of confidence? Trust in Jesus, and you will have true assurance. May we join with those who have declared, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear."